Illuminating stand for bedside tables and the like



Nov. 2, 1965 H. N. BLISS 3, ,8

ILLUMINATING STAND FOR BEDSIDE TABLES AND THE LIKE Filed March 27. 1963INVENTOR. HARVEY N. BLISS AHorney United States Patent 3,215,827ILLUMINATING STAND FOR BEDSllDE TABLES AND THE LIKE Harvey N. Bliss,Windsor, Conn, assignor to The Britton Corporation, Newington, Conn., acorporation of Connecticut Filed Mar. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 268,255 Claims.(Cl. 2406.4)

This invention relates to an illuminating stand for bedside tables andthe like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel illuminatingstand which is easily and conveniently operable at the bedside even inthe absence of other illumination, desirably for placement on a bedsidetable to illuminate the dial of a wristwatch supported thereon.

Another object is to provide such an illuminating stand which may beeconomically manufactured and is relatively simple and durable inconstruction.

Still another object is to provide such an illuminating stand forsupporting a wristwatch which is easily disassembled into a compact unitrequiring a minimum of storage space and which is otherwise particularlyadapted to the needs of the traveler.

A further object is to provide an attractive and compact illuminatingdevice for nightstands and the like which may be used as a portableemergency source of illumination.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the followingdetailed specification and the attached drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an illuminating device embodying thepresent invention and having a wristwatch support with a wristwatchsupported thereon in phantom line and also illustrating an operatorshand for one mode of operation;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the illuminating device of FIGURE1 with a side wall broken away to reveal internal construction;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view thereof with the bottom member removed toreveal internal construction;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom perspective view thereof with the bottom memberdisplaced outwardly and with the electric cell in phantom line andportions of the side and end walls broken away to reveal internalconstruction; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the illuminating device of FIGURE 1 in thebase portion of a traveling container ready for packing in a suitcase orthe like with the watch support member detached and lying fiat upon thebase and with the electric cell removed.

It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects can bereadily attained by an illuminating stand comprised of a base having acavity opening on the bottom thereof and adapted to seat an associatedelectric cell. An electric light bulb member is mounted in an aperturein the top wall of the base and projects thereabove. A bottom member ismounted on the base and extends across the cavity therein and electricalcircuit means are provided in the cavity for completing an electricalcircuit between the light bulb member and an associated electric cell.The circuit means includes a pair of contacts normally spaced apart andwhich are movable into circuitcompleting contact by movement of one ofthe light bulb and bottom members towards the other. For use as a standfor Wristwatches, a support member is seated on the base and extendsupwardly therefrom rearwardly of the light bulb member for supporting anassociated wristwatch with the face thereof in a generally verticalposition so as to be clearly illuminatable by the light bulb member.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the bulb member isresiliently mounted in the aperture in the base which extends from thecavity to the top surface 3,2i5,827 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 by seating ina spring metal conductor strip adjacent a free end thereof for resilientdeflection of the bulb member and strip inwardly of the base towards thebottom membet. The bottom member is mounted on the base and has at leasta portion oscillatable towards and away from the base so that movementof either the bottom member or the bulb member towards the other willbring the con tacts together and close the circuit. The watch supportmember has a vertical leg portion removably seated in a seating orificein the top surface of the base and has a horizontal portion spaced abovethe base adapted to sup port a wristwatch. The watch support member maybe detached from the base and is adapted to lie flat upon the base forconvenient packing and storing.

Referring now in detail to the attached drawing, therein is illustratedan illuminated watch stand embodying the present invention and having abase generally indicated by the numeral 2, an upwardly extending watchsupport member generally designated by the numeral 4 and an electriclight bulb member generally designated by the numeral 6. The light bulbmember 6 is desirably of the bulls-eye type so as to provide diffuseillumination when the concentration at the top thereof is shielded bythe finger of a user.

As best seen in FIGURES 2-4, the base 2 has a cavity 8 therein openingon the bottom thereof generally defined by the side walls 10, 12, endwalls 14, 16 and top wall 18. The light bulb member 6 is seated in anaperture 20 which extends from the upper surface of the top wall 18 intothe cavity 8 and the support member 4 is removably seated in anelongated seating orifice or slot 22 which extends into the base 2 fromthe upper surface of the top wall 18 adjacent the rearward end thereofand at an angle inclined towards the front end of the base. The watchsupport member 4 preferably is fabricated from a transparent syntheticplastic material and is generally of flagshaped configuration with avertical leg portion 24 which slides into the seating orifice 22 and ahorizontally extending arm portion 26 which is spaced above the base 2.The arm portion 26 is adapted to support. a wristwatch generallydesignated by the numeral 28 as shown in phantom in FIGURE 1 with theface 30 in an inclined but generally vertical position.

Extending across the cavity 8 is a generally rectangular bottom memberor cover 34 which is mounted at the rearward end thereof upon the base 2by a threaded fastener 38 having a shank portion extending through anelongated slot 36 opening on the rearward end of the bottom member, thuspermitting the bottom member 34 to be slid from under the head portionof the fastener 3%. To facilitate gripping by the fingers of the bottommember 34- and removal thereof from the fastener 258, finger grips areprovided by a notch 49 in the forward or free end thereof, and anaperture 42 adjacent the center thereof. The cover or bottom member 34is fabricated of a resiliently deflectable material such as paperboardor synthetic plastic and has its free or forward end portion resilientlymovable inwardly or towards the base 2 for a purpose to be describedmore fully hereinafter.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, within the cavity 8 is an electricalcircuit assembly provided by a pair of sheet metal conductive members44, 46 having spring arm portions 48, 50 between which is seated anelectric cell generally designated by the numeral 58. The conductivemember 44 is secured to the base 2 by a threaded fastener and has adownwardly displaced spring contact arm portion 56 adjacent the forwardend of the cavity 8 and spaced below the light bulb member 6. Theconductive member 45 is secured to the base 2 by the fastener 38 and hasa spring contact arm portion 52 extending forwardly of the cavity 3 withan aperture 54 in which is threadably seated the threaded terminalportion 53 of S the light bulb member 6 so as to carry current theretofrom the terminal 62 of the cell 58. The contact or terminal portion 55on the bulb member 6 is spaced upwardly from the spring contact armportion 56 in the normal position so that the circuit to the terminal 60of the cell 58 is normally open.

To close the circuit, the spring contact arm portion 56 and contact 55on the light bulb member 6 may be moved relative to each other intocircuit-completing contact. This may be effected by placing downwardpressure upon the light bulb member 6 against the upwardly biasingpressure of the spring arm portion 52 as shown in FIG- URE 1 or byplacing upward pressure on the free or forward end of the bottom memberor cover 34 which will move the spring contact arm portion 56 upwardlyagainst the contact 55, or by a combination of both. In each instance,the resiliently deflectable character of the spring arm 52 or of thespring arm 56 and bottom member 34 will bias the circuit open uponremoval of the pressure.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the stand of the present invention may be readilydisassembled into a compact unit which is easily transported in a box 64desirably having a lining 66 of cotton or other packing material. Thesupport member 4 is disengaged from the seating orifice 22 and laid fiatupon the top wall 18. The electric cell 58 is desirably removed from thecavity 8 for packing and periods of non-use by temporarily removing thebottom member 34.

In use of the wristwatch stand, it may be placed upon a table orelsewhere adjacent the bedside with the face of the watch properlydisposed upon the support member. The user need only reach over and feelfor the light bulb to press it down to illuminate the face oralternatively press upon the bottom member, or both. For an emer gencysource of illumination, the support member may be removed and the bottommember preferaby used as the means of closing the circuit to avoidinterference with the light produced by the bulb member.

The base may be conveniently and economically fabricated from syntheticplastic or wood and the support member is conveniently fabricated fromsynthetic plastic. The cover or bottom member is easily fabricated fromflexible material such as paperboard or synthetic plastic and theconductive members are easily formed from sheet metal such as copper andaluminum.

Thus, it can be seen that the illuminating stand of the presentinvention is easily and conveniently operable at the bedside by exerciseof the sense of touch even in the absence of other illumination. Thestand is relatively simple and durable in construction and may beeconomically manufactured or disassembled into a compact unit requiringa minimum of storage space for traveling. In addition to providingconvenient illumination at the bedside, the device may be held in thehand to provide a source of general illumination in emergencies.

Although but one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed herein, it will be understood that modification may be madewithin the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim:

1. An illuminated wristwatch stand comprising a base having a cavitytherein opening on the bottom thereof and adapted to seat an electriccell, said base having a seating orifice opening on the top surfacethereof, a generally flag-shaped member having a vertical leg portionremovably seating in said seating orifice of said base and extendingupwardly therefrom and a horizontally extending arm portion spaced abovesaid base for supporting an associated wristwatch with the face thereofin a generally vertical position; a light bulb member mounted on saidbase and having a base portion extending below the top surface of saidbase and a bulb portion projecting above the top surface of said baseforwardly of said support member for illuminating the face of anassociated wristwatch on said support member; a bottom member on saidbase extending across the cavity therein, one of said light bulb andbottom members being mounted on said base for resilient movement towardsthe other of said members; and electrical circuit means in said cavityfor completing a circuit between an electric cell received therein andsaid light bulb, said circuit means including a pair of contactsnormally spaced apart, said contacts being movable intocircuit-completing contact by resilient movement of said one of saidbottom and light bulb members toward the other of said members.

2. An alluminated wristwatch stand comprising a base having a cavitytherein opening on the bottom thereof, said base having an apertureextending between the top surface thereof and said cavity, and a seatingorifice spaced from said aperture and opening on the top surfacethereof; means in said cavity for seating an electric cell; a generallyflag-shaped support member having a vertical leg removably seated insaid seating orifice of the base and having a horizontally extending armportion spaced above said base for supporting an associated wristwatchwith the face thereof in a generally vertical position; a light bulbmember having a base portion extending below the top surface of saidbase and a bulb portion forwardly of said support member forilluminating the face of an associated wristwatch on said supportmember, said bulb member having a tip contact at the inner end of saidbase portion; means resiliently mounting said light bulb member in saidaperture for deflection inwardly of said base; a bottom member ofresiliently deflectable material having one end mounted on the base andthe other end free for deflection inwardly of said base; and electricalcircuit means in said cavity for completing an electrical circuitbetween an electric cell received therein and said light bulb member,said circuit means including an upper contact in electrical connectionwith said base portion of said bulb member and movable with saidelectric bulb member and a lower contact movable with said other end ofsaid bottom member, said bulb tip and lower contacts being normallyspaced apart, each of said bottom and light bulb members beingresiliently movable toward the other of said members to move said bulbtip and lower contacts into contact with each other for completing theelectric circuit.

3. An illuminating stand for night stands and the like comprising a basehaving a cavity opening on the bottom thereof and an aperture extendingthrough the top wall thereof to said cavity; means in said cavity forseating an electric cell; a light bulb member in said aperture having abase portion extending below the top surface of said top wall and a bulbportion projecting above said top wall said base portion having a tipcontact at the inner end thereof; means in said cavity resilientlymounting said light bulb member in said aperture for resilientdeflection downwardly towards said base; a bottom member of resilientlydeflectable material extending across said cavity and having one endmounted on said base and the other end free for deflection inwardly ofsaid base; and electrical circuit means in said cavity for completing anelectrical circuit between an electric cell received therein and saidlight bulb member, said circuit means including an upper contact inelectrical connection with said base portion of said bulb member andmoveable with said electric bulb member and a lower contact movable withsaid other end of said bottom member, said bulb tip contact and lowercontact being normally spaced apart, each of said bottom and light bulbmembers being resiliently movable toward the other of said members tomove said bulb tip and lower contact into contact with each other tocomplete the electric circuit.

4. An illuminating stand for night stands and the like comprising a basehaving a cavity therein opening on the bottom thereof adapted to seat anelectric cell and an aperture extending through the top wall thereof tosaid cavity; a light bulb member in said aperture having a base portionextending below the top surface of said top wall and a bulb portionprojecting above the top wall of said base, said bulb member baseportion having a threaded portion and a tip contact at the inner endthereof; a bottom member mounted on said base extending across thecavity therein and having at least a portion thereof oscillatabletowards and away from said base; and a pair of sheet metal conductivemembers mounted in the cavity of said base intermediate their ends, saidconductive members having spring arm portions at one end thereof inspaced apart relationship for receiving an electric cell therebetween,one of said conductive members having a spring contact arm portion atthe other end thereof adjacent said top wall, said spring contact armportion having an aperture therein which threadably receives saidthreaded base portion of said light bulb member in electrical contacttherewith and provides resilient mounting of said light bulb member forlimited deflection thereof towards said bottom member, the other of saidconductive members having a spring contact arm portion at the other endthereof spaced below the tip contact of said light bulb member, saidsecond mentioned spring contact arm port-ion being movable with saidoscillata'ble portion of said bottom member for limited deflectiontowards said bulb member, each of said bottom and light bulb membersbeing resiliently movable toward the other of said members to move saidbulb tip contact and said second-mentioned contact arm portion intocircuit-completing contact.

5. An illuminated wristwatch stand for night stands and the likecomprising a base having a cavity opening on the bottom thereof, anaperture extending through the top wall thereof to said cavity and aseating orifice opening on the top surface thereof spaced from saidaperture; means in said cavity for seating an electric cell; a lightbulb member in said aperture having a base portion extending below thetop surface of said top wall and a bulb portion projecting above saidtop wall, said base portion having a tip contact at the inner endthereof; means in said cavity resiliently mounting said light bulbmember in said aperture for resilient deflection downwardly toward saidbase; a bottom member of resilrient deflectable material extendingacross said cavity and having one end mounted on said base and the otherend free for deflection inwardly of said base; electric circuit means insaid cavity for completing an electric circuit between an electric cellreceived therein and said light bulb member, said circuit meansincluding an upper contact in electric connection with said base portionof said bulb member end movable with said electric bulb member and alower contact movable with said other end of said bottom member, saidbulb tip contact and lower contacts being normally spaced apart, each ofsaid bottom and light bulb members being resiliently movable toward theother of said members to move said bulb tip and lower contacts intocontact with each other to complete the electric circuit; and agenerally flag-shaped support member having a vertical leg portionremovably seated in said seating orifice and a horizontally extendingarm portion spaced above said base for supporting an associatedWristwatch with the face thereof in a generally vertical position forillumination of the face thereof by said light bulb member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,310,936 7/19Walker 240-81 1,442,896 1/23 Maier 2406,43 1,875,650 9/ 32 Pemberton2406.45 2,166,657 7/39 Evelyn 240-1061 2,311,3 3'2. 2/43 Fleischner.

2,392,696 1/46 Rucker 240--6.43 2,785,288 3/57 Lewis 240-1061 NORTONANSHER, Primary Examiner.

2. AN ALLUMINATED WRISTWATCH STAND COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A CAVITYTHEREIN OPENING ON THE BOTTOM THEREOF, SAID BASE HAVING AN APERTUREEXTENDING BETWEEN THE TOP SURFACE THEREOF AND SAID CAVITY, AND A SEATINGORIFICE SPACED FROM SAID APERTURE AND OPENING ON THE TOP SURFACETHEREOF; MEANS IN SIAD CAVITY FOR SEATING AN ELECTRIC CELL; A GENERALLYFLAG-SHAPED SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A VERTICAL LEG REMOVABLY SEATED INSAID SEATING ORIFICE OF THE BASE AND HAVING A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING ARMPORTION SPACED ABOVE SAID BASE FOR SUPPORTING AN ASSOCIATED WRISTWATCHWITH THE FACE THEREOF IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL POSITION; A LIGHT BULBMEMBER HAVING A BASE PORTION EXTENDING BELOW THE TOP SURFACE OF SAIDBASE AND A BULB PORTION FORWARDLY OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FORILLUMINATING THE FACE OF AN ASSOCAITED WRISTWATCH ON SAID SUPPORTMEMBER, SAID BULB MEMBER HAVING A TIP CONTACT AT THE INNER END OF SAIDBASE PORTION; MEANS RESILIENTLY MOUNTING SAID LIGHT BULB MEMBER IN SAIDAPERTURE FOR DEFLECTION INWARDLY OF SAID BASE; A BOTTOM MEMBER OFRESILIENTLY DEFLECTABLE MATERIAL HAVING ONE END MOUNTED ON THE BASE ANDTHE OTHER END FREE FOR DEFLECTION INWARDLY OF SAID BASE; AND ELECTRICALCIRCUIT MEANS IN SIAD CAVITY FOR COMPLETION AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUITBETWEEN AN ELECTRIC CELL RECEIVED THEREIN AND SIAD LIGHT BULB MEMBER,SAID CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING AN UPPER CONTACT IN ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONWITH SAID BASE PORTION OF SAID BULB MEMBER AND MOVABLE WITH SAIDELECTRIC BULB MEMBER AND A LOWER CONTACT MOVABLE WITH SAID OTHER END OFSAID BOTTOM MEMBER, SAID BULB TIP AND LOWER CONTACTS BEING NORMALLYSPACED APART, EACH OF SAID BOTTOM AND LIGHT BULB MEMBERS BEINGRESILIENTLY MOVABLE TOWARD THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS TO MOVE SAID BULBTIP AND LOWER CONTACTS INTO CONTACT WITH ECH OTHER FOR COMPLETION THEELECTRIC CIRCUIT.